Meet our new Edge board member: Christina Zuiderveen

Tell us a bit about yourself and your farm. 

My husband and I both grew up on dairy farms in California and Michigan. We have 3 children: Audrey, Janelle and Jacob. We moved to Iowa 13 years ago when we did a remodel project on our dairy. We work closely with my brother, who is just across the state line in Beresford, South Dakota. Our home farm milks about 2,700 cows, and we are building a second site nearby that will milk about 6,000 head. My role on the farm is primarily in the business side of things and a lot of HR-related items, including visa applications and employee housing.  

Tell us why you are committed to the organization and what it means to your farm. 

I have been very appreciative of Edge and the relationship we have formed over the last few years. My first time working with a lot of the team was when I testified before the Senate Sub-committee calling for reform to the FMMO a few years ago, and the team was helpful in making sure I felt well-prepared. I enjoyed the process and was encouraged to become more involved in policy at both the state and federal levels. It is valuable for my farm to have a voice in D.C., and I enjoy the process of helping share my story. I’m appreciative of the information and resources that Edge continually provides members through webinars, newsletters and other resources. 

What are you looking forward to the most in your role on the board? 

I'm looking forward to learning more about the inner workings of our cooperative. As an Iowan, I'm very familiar with the industry and people in the I-29 corridor, but I do not have much experience or relationships with the Wisconsin region. I look forward to all the new networking opportunities and to learning about some of the differences between the two regions.